Technical Arts

Philosophy

With hands-on processes and projects at the core, Lick Wilmerding High School Technical Arts teaches at the junction of Design & Engineering & Craft in service of Connection & Community & Purpose.

Lick-Wilmerding Technical Arts is more than the "hands" part of the school. Our courses in Jewelry, Code, Wood, Sewing, Metal, Digital Fabrication, and Electronics are places for students to skill up and connect with their humanity. It's a place to learn about designing, prototyping, and building things together that bring joy, confidence, and meaning. Regardless of future study or career, Technical Arts classes teach students about project management, working in teams across differences, persistence in the face of challenge, resourcefulness, object and experience design, and the value of mindful craft. Our classes emphasize hard and soft skills and help form whole and flexible young adults, of all identifiers, for a changing world.

Graduation from Lick-Wilmerding requires all students to take a minimum of four semesters in Technical Arts. In addition to Design & Technology in ninth grade, students must choose two other semester long courses that meet in the various shops—Computing, Wearables (Jewelry and Sewing), Wood, Metal, Digital Fabrication, and Electronics. One of the two additional required Technical Arts classes must be from the "Design & Craft" category, while the other must be from the "Design & Engineering" category.